It begins simply but rhythmically — a kickdrum, then snare, beating in a hopeful but reckoning rhythm that is then combined with upbeat keys and a subdued guitar accompaniment, all in a glimmer of light in the darkness.
This is how “Lifeline 988” by The Ticking Clocks begins, a song of hope that stays with you after listening, and that warrants repeated listens. For the band, whose members are composed of Rio Grande Valley musicians, this is the feeling they hoped the song would convey.
Like any form of artistic expression, they want their music to serve as a message that touches the soul in ways words can’t. The lyrics of each song are like a poem that expresses the deepest emotions.
What better way to address suicide awareness than with hope.
At least that’s what Manny Saenz, a 51-year-old art teacher at Edinburg North High School and lead singer and rhythm guitarist of The Ticking Clocks, said one of his bandmates wanted to accomplish.
“Andy felt that there wasn’t enough awareness about the month of September being the national suicide prevention month,” Manny said, referring to 44-year-old Andres J. Lopez of McAllen, the piano and keyboardist for the band.
That’s how “Lifeline 988” came to be.
When they first wrote the song, it was simply called “Lifeline.” But after the crisis hotline 988 was established on July 16, 2020, Manny suggested adding the number to their song title in order to raise awareness and let people know that there is a place they can reach out to.
“I agreed with him, within the title of the song give them the lifeline,” Andy said.
Since the release of their song, they have had people reach out to them asking about the new hotline “so, we feel it’s doing its job — raising awareness of the month and the new hotline number,” Manny, who’s been teaching since 1998, said.
Andy, himself a teacher at Delma Salinas Early College High School in La Joya ISD, said his idea was inspired by his concern for students who may have suffered from mental health struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, shelter in place orders were imposed almost everywhere in the United States, and the Valley was not the exception. This meant kids accustomed to going to school, related functions or simply hanging out were then stuck at home.
In-school learning then followed. It was about a year or more before some semblance of normalcy was achieved, but not before anxieties and mental health concerns had already set in for some.
“Right now in this era of mental stress and high anxiety, I want to somehow make my song — my first song that I bring to the band — be something that is going to be helpful to my students,” Andy said.
The man on the keys added that as an educator he is always thinking of ways to help his students.
“I want to be able to give a song to my students, to the community that is going to help them cope with suicide,” Andy continued. “(Something) that is going to help them know how to reach out.”
Manny said he and his band members, including lead guitarist Mario Aleman and drummer Homer Rios, agree that the goal of the song is to remind people that they’re not alone.
The song can be found on all music streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
“We are averaging 100 listens per day. … It’s incredible because we’re getting the data in regards to where people are and where they’re listening to it, and people in Hawaii, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and here in Texas,” Manny said, clearly pleased with the attention the song is getting so far. “It’s getting around.”
